The Tigers shut Hifumi after he started felling pain in his right shoulder while playing catch on 2/7. He was allowed to play catch again beginning on 5/19 and was up to playing catch every other day when they shut him down again on 8/17. Hifumi has not been allowed to play catch since then.

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Ryota Araiworked out at Naruohama on Sunday. After his practices, he told reporters that he was talking to Hirokazu Ibata (CHU) about working out together in January.

"I was coming back from an injury back then as well," said Ando. "I would like to try and do the same kinds of things [during the upcoming offseason]. If I do some throwing now, things will be different next year in the spring."

Abe's comments onTetsuya Matsumoto and Taishi Ota: "The desire in Matsu's eyes are gone. Marriage means different things [to different people]. I said to Taishi during our Nokai, 'Play as if you are prepared to quit if things do not go well this season.' There is no doubt he has the ability."

Tatsuro Hirooka was at the Giants' OB gathering on Sunday and told reporters he was disappointed more former Giants were not being hired as coaches by the team -- former GM Hidetoshi Kiyotake brought in two coaches from the "outside." He also did not think GM Atsushi Harasawa knew enough about baseball -- he suggested the team hire an assistant to help him in that area. Hirooka then added that things probably could not get worse and that the team should take this opportunity to make the necessary reforms.